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A rendering commissioned by the West Pasadena Residents Association shows what the city might look like if development occurred on the freeway stub meant to connect the 710 Freeway to the 210. (Courtesy Photo provided by the West Pasadena Residents Association)
A rendering commissioned by the West Pasadena Residents Association shows what the city might look like if development occurred on the freeway stub meant to connect the 710 Freeway to the 210. (Courtesy Photo provided by the West Pasadena Residents Association)
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With the proposed 710 freeway extension on its death bed, there’s new hope Pasadena can re-acquire the 50-acre concrete ditch cutting through the city’s core to transform the freeway property back into neighborhoods, parks and tree-lined boulevards.

The state-owned ditch between California Boulevard and the 210 Freeway represents nearly 2.5 million square feet of potential development next to the thriving Old Pasadena downtown district. Estimates suggest the land’s development could generate tens of millions of dollars in economic benefits.

“It’s great to have the city even being able to talk about this, as opposed to gritting its teeth and waiting for a tunnel,” said Mayor Terry Tornek.

In San Francisco, the city re-purposed the earthquake-damaged State Route 480 into the Embarcadero, creating new public space and an economic boon for the city.

Tornek is optimistic enough that he has pushed the city’s staff to begin planning and hosting public discussions on the future of the land. It could take 20 years for the project to become reality, but the city has to start working on this now, he said.

On Monday, Transportation Director Fred Dock outlined the citizen-led Connecting Pasadena Project, which proposes replacing the stub with a surface boulevard and neighborhoods that scale in density from south to north. A linear park could run parallel to the boulevard, stretching the entire length.

The city could turn St. John and Pasadena avenues into two-way streets and add more east-west connections through the area, Dock said. A partnership with Metro could allow a transportation hub on the north end that could be used for future light rail, or rapid bus, expansions. Councilmembers also suggested utilizing land for much-needed affordable housing, particularly in light of the homes lost when Caltrans took over the property decades ago.

The Connecting Pasadena Project has given the city a running start, but there will be many more discussions and ideas presented over what is likely to be a multi-year process, Tornek said.

All of the work depends on the state relinquishing the land back to Pasadena. If California de-lists the 710 extension from the freeway system, it will revert to local control, where city officials, through a master plan, could sell off parcels for development.

Since the 1950s, Caltrans has planned to build a surface freeway that would connect the north 710 through El Sereno, South Pasadena and Pasadena to the 210 Freeway. Most recently, the state agency proposed a 6.3-mile freeway tunnel that was opposed by Pasadena, South Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge and other cities.

In May, the Los Angeles Metro board voted 12-0 against the $3 billion to $5 billion extension of the 710 Freeway.

In July, Rosemead sued Metro, claiming their vote in May was premature and violated environmental laws. They’ve asked a court to throw out the decision, but no ruling has been made.

Caltrans is expected to release its final environmental impact report by early next year. The state agency could push ahead with the tunnel project despite opposition, but Tornek said he doesn’t see that happening. In the face of the unanimous vote and a shortage of funds, Tornek believes Caltrans will move away from the tunnel and relinquish the land.

“I’m not suggesting its inevitable, or final, but I think there’s enough validity, and certainty to it, that we ought to start talking about it, and planning for it, and beginning the public discussion,” he said.

Pasadena is working with Assemblyman Chris Holden and state Senator Anthony Portantino on the efforts to regain control of the property. Dock, the transportation director, said staff at Caltrans and Metro have expressed interest in Pasadena’s plans to redevelop the land.

Pasadena is now looking for grants and other funding sources to move forward with the planning process. Pasadena can’t request funding through Los Angeles County’s half-cent Measure R transportation fund for any project that would make a tunnel impossible, Dock said.

“There are a lot of moving parts that need to be put together,” Dock said.